Two of the toys I remember most when I was really little are of course, "Easy Bake Oven" and "Sew Easy". These are both available today, again, slightly modified, but still just as fun for kids and just as annoying for parents, because they require constant supervision. Not that I mind playing with my kids, I just think it's more fun for kids to play with other kids, learning together, with other kids.
Underoos were an AWESOME gift, and I especially loved the hard to find "Super girl" ones. The "Wonder woman" underoos were pretty cool too, but came with a bunchy undershirt instead of a bra-like top. Unfortunately they aren't available today, but there are many other cartoon/toy themed underpants for kids to enjoy.... it's just too bad they're not as cool as underoos.
I also loved playing with little dolls and figures. I was obsessed with Barbie, but when I was feeling a little more granola, "The Sunshine Family" was just the ticket. I loved their Walton's-like clothing and creepy round eyes. Today my girls love Barbie as well, but I don't think there's anything like "The Sunshine Family"on the market. Now the stores carry other dolls like those "Bratz" dolls that look like little prostitutes.
-Another one of my all-time favorites were "The Little People" play sets. Most of mine were hand-me-downs, so I had the super vintage cool sets like the barn with the sliding loft doors, but I do remember getting a new set of the Sesame Street figures in the early 80's and loving them! "Little People" dolls are still sold today.
Barbie was probably my most favorite toy ever, but along with the dolls, I LOVED the "Barbie Fashion Maker". Using the embossed plastic plates, carbon paper, and hand crank, you could design a limitless number of high fashion sketches and then color them however you pleased. This toy is still being made, but much improved. You don't need the carbon paper anymore, so there isn't a big mess, with black fingerprints and smudges everywhere.
Most of us at one time or another, ended up with a "Cabbage Patch Doll". These were not my favorites, but I begged my mom for one anyway because, well, everyone else had them. Much like those ridiculous "Silly Bands" or "Web kins" of today.
When I was around 12 years old, we got a Nintendo for Christmas. I vividly remember that morning, opening up the package with my sister and screaming in delight. We then spent the rest of the day playing "Super Mario Bro." and trying like heck to rescue the princess after a couple bowls of "Nut & Honey Crunch" cereal for breakfast. We didn't make much progress, but after several hundred hours of practice, we not only saved the princess, but became hands down, the "Super Mario Bro." champions of the world. Unbelievably, my parents still have this Nintendo and it still works. Once in a while, Candice and I show off our mad "Mario" skills for the family, but most of the time our kids play with it. Funny too, considering with all the high speed gaming systems of today, "Super Mario Bro." on the original Nintendo still rocks the house!
Later during our teen years, I wanted more sophisticated and mature things, like "Jelly Shoes", "Multiples" (that line of versatile clothing that could be a skirt... or a top... or a tube scarf... or a hat... or a belt... or a spaghetti strainer) and cool hair accessories/gadgets. Clairol's "Benders" worked really well on dry permed hair like mine and made it much easier keep my banana clips in. I don't think much has changed. Teens today are still wearing really cool clothes and sensible shoes.
5 comments:
I am laughing reading this rad post because Gretchen got a little singer sewing machine from Santa and asked for an easy bake but they were sold out. (Luckily her b-day is in Feb) She loves her jellies and wears them in winter to play outside ???, she has an awesome barbie fashion maker AND she inherited 2 original cabbage patch from Aunt Dare.
If only she knew how cool she really was....or spoiled! ;)
I so wanted to sport banana clips but my hair was way to thin to keep them in. But believe me, I tried!
I remember all of this stuff! I think Zoey would love the new and improved fashion maker. I remember our Nintendo too, but I am quite sure ours is long dead.
You showed the Nintendo...are you too young for the original atari...i remember when my brothers got one.
We were just talking about banana clips the other day...what were we thinking?
Jelly shoes...how UNCOMFORTABLE.
Not sure if you ever read my post about wonderwoman underoos, but I was a huge fan.
And, when I was about 9, I went around singing "all I want for Christmas is a bald headed cabbage patch kid" for a few weeks straight.
My mom's friend had scored some (they were impossible to find) and I had seen them in her closet and I thought the rest of them were ugly so I started singing that I wanted the bald one..it worked. I wished I would have kept him.
Find it ironic that I am the only one of my three sisters that doesn't have a real son. My cabbage patch kid is as close as I got.
I refused to buy an easy bake oven when we can cook for real.
What a fun walk down memory lane.
I love it all!
Thanks for the memories. I hope that most of that fashion stuff never comes back. Although I would love my "Frankie goes to Hollywood" t-shirt back...so comfortable
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